Healthy Living: Increasing Physical and Mental Well-Being in Youth
Healthy Living: Increasing Physical and Mental Well-Being
Mackenzie Pogue
Health
Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion. In Kentucky 37% of youth 10-17 are overweight or obese, and 51% report not exercising regularly. 25% of youth report some form of emotional or behavioral condition and suicide rates are at record high (KY suicides per 100,000 people: 15.3, 10th highest in nation). Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health disease can affect anyone, with 1,160 reported opioid-involved deaths (a rate of 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons) in Kentucky and Vaping nearly doubled among middle and high school students — with 27% of high school seniors reporting they had tried the product in 2018.
Increased number of youth maintaining positive health habits;
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness;
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
Reduce the number of youth reporting drug, alcohol, and tobacco use
Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle
Improved access and utilization of resources
Improved perceived stress and ability to cope
Youth will contribute to their communities
Youth will practice refusal skills
Youth will intervene to prevent use/abuse
Improved in awareness of health concerns for youth
Improved education about diversity and Inclusion
Reduced stigma of individuals with MH disease
Improved understanding of the consequences of risky behaviors
Promote optimal physical, social and emotional health habits
Initial Outcome: Youth learning about healthy food choices through 4-H.
Indicator: Number of youth who indicated they learned about healthy food choices through 4-H
Method: Evaluation
Timeline:
Intermediate Outcome: Youth learning to make healthy lifestyle choices as are result of what they learned through 4-H programming.
Indicator: Number of youth who indicated they made healthy lifestyle choices as are result of what they learned through 4-H programming.
Method:Evaluation
Timeline:
Long-term Outcome:Youth increasing their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten as a result of 4-H programs.
Indicator: Number of youth who indicated they increased their daily number of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten as a result of 4-H programs.
Method:Evaluation
Timeline:
Audience: Elementary School Students
Project or Activity: Community Clubs & CloverBud Club
Content or Curriculum: Mindful Me
Inputs: Teen and Adult Volunteers
Date: Year Long
Audience: Middle School Students
Project or Activity: Community Club
Content or Curriculum: GEM
Inputs: Teen and Adult Leaders
Date: Fall
Audience: High School
Project or Activity: STAND Club: School Assemblies, Red Ribbon Rally, Monthly Programs
Content or Curriculum: Health Rocks!
Inputs: Teens and Adult Leaders
Date: Year Round
Author: Mackenzie Pogue
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Muhlenberg County 4-H and Youth Development Agent, 4-H Program Assistant, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, and SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Program assistant collaborated to offer Chopped 4-H Edition. The group followed the Super Star Chef Day Camp program. 20 students, both male and female in grades 4-7 participated. Four staff members and three volunteers worked with students in a hand-on educational setting to improve important life skills. A pre-test and a post-test evaluation was conducte
Author: Mackenzie Pogue
Major Program: Health
According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 65 percent of Kentucky’s children are not enrolled in regular physical education classes. Kentucky Youth Advocates notes, 16% of Kentucky youth are facing anxiety or depression because of the pandemic. Muhlenberg County Extension partnered with the local health department to tackle these pertinent issues facing our youth through the program, FIT Happens. The goal of FIT Happens was to target high school youth, asses